Algerian defender Elias Benkara suffers injury blow during Borussia Dortmund pre-season

Borussia Dortmund’s preparations for the 2026-27 season have suffered a setback after Algerian defender Elias Benkara picked up an injury during the club’s pre-season friendly defeat to Fortuna Düsseldorf.

The 19-year-old, who has been training with Dortmund’s first team throughout the summer, was forced off after sustaining the injury during Saturday’s 2-1 loss, interrupting what had been an important opportunity to impress the coaching staff ahead of the new campaign.

Benkara entered the match as a second-half substitute but was unable to complete the game. After coming on shortly after the restart, the young defender was forced to leave the pitch in the 78th minute following the injury.

Borussia Dortmund have yet to confirm the full extent of the problem, with the club’s medical team continuing to assess the defender before providing a definitive diagnosis.

The injury comes at a particularly difficult moment for Benkara, who had been hoping to use the pre-season schedule to strengthen his position within the senior squad.

Having been fully involved in first-team preparations, the Algerian youngster was looking to gain valuable minutes on the pitch and make a positive impression on head coach Nico Kovač ahead of the start of the competitive season.

Instead, the untimely setback now casts uncertainty over his immediate involvement with the squad.

The timing is especially unfortunate because Borussia Dortmund are due to depart for Japan in the coming hours as part of their summer preparations. The Bundesliga club will continue its promotional tour in Asia, where two additional friendly matches are scheduled to take place.

Those fixtures were expected to provide Benkara with further opportunities to showcase his ability against senior opposition while continuing his development with the first team.

However, until the results of the medical assessment are known, it remains unclear whether the defender will be available to travel or participate in the remaining pre-season matches.

For Benkara, the injury interrupts the momentum he had built during the opening weeks of pre-season. After earning a place in Dortmund’s first-team preparations and working to convince the coaching staff of his potential, the 19-year-old must now await further medical updates before knowing when he can resume his push for regular involvement.

Borussia Dortmund are expected to provide more information once the club’s medical team completes its evaluation of the young Algerian defender.